CPR on the Court, down the Track, on the Field

By J. A. Young

CPR training is invaluable for preserving life when catastrophe strikes. It is also finding its way into sporting events. In recent news, various athletes have required CPR. Sometimes it’s an unknown heart condition that leads to a collapse or sometimes it’s pure exhaustion. Whatever the case, bystanders that have CPR training can save the life of an athlete that suffers cardiac arrest. The following news items reflect recent incidents where CPR was performed on the court or field.

Young Wrestler Saved by CPR

Recently a 15-year-old wrestler was the subject of an astounding news story. The teen was dead was seven minutes yet his school principal has just completed CPR training six days before and was able to administer the life-saving techniques until emergency services arrived. The youth had an undetected hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that led to his cardiac arrest; the condition plagues various young athletes though it can be detected through an EKG. The boy’s school did not require the test and the boy was allowed to wrestle. Today he is alive thanks to the timely intervention of his school principal who is certainly gratified that he completed his training!

AEDs and Schools

A young Idaho football player owes his survival to an AED that was placed at his high school. Having collapsed on the field, the boy received CPR from two coaches while a third ran for help and to retrieve the school’s AED. The coaches delivering the CPR are convinced that the boy might never have revived it was not for the AED. They now advocate for these devices which they believe should be placed in all schools as well as other public places.

Teen Girl Saved on Basketball Court

A teen softball player decided to play some basketball for a change at the school gym when she collapsed on the court. The coach ran to her side and knowing CPR, he was able to deliver a couple rounds before others could bring the AED to him. Because she had no pulse, the coach knew to deliver one shock to the girl. He was able to keep her alive until emergency help arrived. Her case was another instance where both CPR and the AED were essential for saving her life that day.

Athletes Do CPR Too!

This past fall a college student athlete was able to help administer CPR before her game. On game days this young woman liked to go to the local coffee shop for a little jolt of caffeine. Upon arriving, she saw a commotion at the entrance where a man had collapsed. Knowing CPR, she was able to help revive him by performing chest compressions until emergency services arrived. In her case, a coffee habit and CPR saved a human life!

Athletics is fun for kids and they can hardly wait to hit the court, track, or their associated venue in order to play their hearts out! Sometimes, their hearts carry an undetected abnormality that stops them in their tracks. Luckily athletic departments now understand the essential need to train in CPR and to keep AEDs on hand. These people were lucky to survive their ordeals and they did because bystanders trained in CPR and were on the scene to help!